Michael Brooke-Feather – St Austell/Penryn

February 2017

Paedophile had child abuse images so sick judge was worried for police who had to watch it

A convicted paedophile who accessed child sexual abuse images so extreme a judge expressed concern for the police who officers who had to watch it has been given another jail term.

Michael Brooke-Feather, 35, previously of Redruth, Penryn and St Austell in Cornwall, was found in possession of images depicting young children being anally raped, hung upside down and burned with a blow torch when police searched his property.

Brooke-Feather had previously served a jail term after being convicted of the sexual assault of a two-year-old child he carried out whilst changing a nappy and captured the abuse on camera.

He had previously pleaded guilty to one charge of breaching a previously issued Sexual Harm Prevention Order by making the images, as well as three counts of making the images which included 40 Category A images (37 of which were videos), 17 Category B images (four videos) and 17 Category C images (two videos).

The court heard how Brooke-Feather breached a Sexual Harm Prevention Order issued in August 2016 following his previous conviction by meeting a woman from Penzance at his work place where he was employed under the name Michael Roberts.

Prosecutor Phillip Lee described how the woman heard one of her children crying upstairs and when she went to check found Brooke-Feather holding him breathing heavily.

“The incident was reported to police and Mr Brooke-Feather was arrested for breaching his order,” he said.

“When police arrived at his property he was found trying to dispose of a hard drive by throwing it out of the window

“The hard drive was recovered and an examination found the indecent images of children, which were described as the most distressing ever seen by officers who were badly affected by having to look at them

Mitigating for Brooke-Feather, Curtis Lewis said that he had moved on from previous offences and despite viewing the images, had no intention of any sexual contact.

“The defendant accepts that he has a perverse attraction to young children and is using his time in prison constructively to try and address that,” he said.

Sentencing, Judge Robert Linford said: “When I read the schedule of images you accessed I was affected by just by reading it and what the poor officers went through I can only imagine. Children being raped is clearly how you get your kicks.

“Just a few years ago you were involved in the sexual touching of a young child and that interest persists. I have no doubt you post a significant risk of continuing to offend in this way.

“When one considers the aggravating factors around this case you have committed virtually every one. The images plumb the depths of depravity.”

Brooke-Feather was handed an extended prison sentence after Judge Linford ruled him to be dangerous.

He must serve three years behind bars and a further three years on licence making a total sentence of six years.

June 2012

Paedophile jailed for assault

THE SEXUAL assault of a toddler has landed a former St Austell man behind bars for more than two years.

Truro Crown Court heard the mother of the little girl had suffered severe depression as a result of Michael Brooke-Feather’s actions.

Judge Christopher Harvey Clark QC said he had “no alternative” but to send the 30-year-old to prison.

At an earlier hearing Brooke-Feather, formerly of Pendilly Drive, St Austell, but now of Penryn, had admitted assaulting the girl, who was nearly 2, and making or possessing 14 indecent images of children, including extreme pornography.

Elaine Hobson, for the prosecution, said the mother was horrified when told by police what Brooke-Feather had done.

“The child does not recall anything, but a great burden has been placed on her and the family,” she said.

Miss Hobson told the court police were alerted by Brooke-Feather’s paedophile network activities, and revealed he had an interest in images of children up to the age of 6.

When interviewed Brooke-Feather accepted responsibility for the images of the child, stored on a disk.

Jailing Brooke-Feather for two years and eight months, Judge Harvey Clark told him: “You understand I have no alternative but to impose immediate custody. You took indecent photographs of a very young girl and it is perfectly clear from the mother’s statement that she has been caused huge distress.

“She feels there is a terrible burden on her not to tell her daughter. I’m told you are appalled by your behaviour and want to change your sexual interests.”

Maurice Champion, for the defence, stressed that Brooke-Feather had no previous convictions.

Judge Harvey Clark imposed an indefinite sexual offences prevention order and instructed Brooke-Feather to sign the sex offenders’ register for the rest of his life.

Speaking after the sentencing St Austell police inspector Stuart Gibbons said: “Obviously this was a sick crime. When crimes of this nature are reported to us we treat them very seriously and we will do our very best to bring the person to justice.”